Niantic in Talks to Sell to Saudi-Owned Firm Behind Stumble Guys

Niantic, the developer behind the popular augmented reality game Pokémon Go, is reportedly in discussions to sell its video game division to Scopely, a company owned by Saudi Arabia's Savvy Games Group, for a staggering $3.5 billion. As reported by Bloomberg, this potential sale would encompass Pokémon Go, a game that has revolutionized mobile gaming by encouraging players to explore the real world to capture virtual Pokémon.

According to an anonymous source cited by Bloomberg, the deal, while not finalized, could be officially announced within weeks if it receives the green light. Neither Niantic, Scopely, nor Savvy Games Group have made any public statements regarding the speculated acquisition.

Scopely, which was acquired by Savvy Games Group in April 2023 for $4.9 billion following the Saudi government's announcement of its intent to purchase a leading games publisher, is known for its successful mobile titles such as The Walking Dead: Road to Survival, Stumble Guys, Marvel Strike Force, and Monopoly Go. Savvy Games Group's investment in the gaming industry extends further, having purchased two of the largest esports companies, ESL and FACEIT, for a total of $1.5 billion in 2022.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz outlined the broader strategy behind these acquisitions, stating, “Savvy Games Group is one part of our ambitious strategy aiming to make Saudi Arabia the ultimate global hub for the games and esports sector by 2030. We are harnessing the untapped potential across the esports and games sector to diversify our economy, drive innovation in the sector, and further scale the entertainment and esports competition offerings across the Kingdom.”